Risk of falls in institutionalized elderly individuals with Alzheimer's disease

Authors

  • Lucas Lima Ferreira Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
  • Giliadi Gadiel Américo Sanches Centro Universitário de Rio Preto
  • Laís Passos Marcondes Centro Universitário de Rio Preto
  • Paulo Cesar Balade Saad Centro Universitário de Rio Preto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5585/conssaude.v12n3.4234

Keywords:

Accidental falls, Alzheimer disease, Elderly.

Abstract

Introduction: Seniors with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have differences in gait and balance, according to the stage of the disease, which may predispose them to falls. Objective: To evaluate the impact of AD on the risk of falls in elderly residents in a long-stay institution. Methods: We evaluated 20 patients of both sexes, with AD and evaluated the sociodemographic profile, the gait and balance through the Tinetti scale. Results: It was found that the majority of seniors (75%) were female with a mean age of 77.8 ± 10.3 years and duration of institutionalization of 2.4 ± 1.7 years. A high risk (70%) for falls was found in elderly patients with AD; furthermore, the greater the age, the higher the risk. Conclusion: This study revealed a high risk for falls in institutionalized elderly individuals and that this risk was correlated with more advanced age, equal to or greater than 80 years.

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Author Biographies

Lucas Lima Ferreira, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)

Mestrando em Fisioterapia pela Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) campus de Presidente Prudente. Pós-graduado em Aprimoramento em Fisioterapia Hospitalar pela Faculdade de Medicina de Rio Preto (FAMERP). Fisioterapeuta graduado pela Fundação Educacional de Fernandópolis (FEF).

Giliadi Gadiel Américo Sanches, Centro Universitário de Rio Preto

Especialista em Fisioterapia Clínica pelo Centro Universitário de Rio Preto (UNIRP); Graduado em Fisioterapia pela UNIRP.

Laís Passos Marcondes, Centro Universitário de Rio Preto

Especialista em Fisiologia e Biomecânica do Exercício Físico pela Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP). Docente do Centro Universitário de Rio Preto.

Paulo Cesar Balade Saad, Centro Universitário de Rio Preto

Doutor em Ciências da Saúde pela Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP). Docente e Coordenador do curso de Fisioterapia do Centro Universitário de Rio Preto.

Published

2013-10-15

How to Cite

1.
Ferreira LL, Sanches GGA, Marcondes LP, Saad PCB. Risk of falls in institutionalized elderly individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Cons. Saúde [Internet]. 2013 Oct. 15 [cited 2024 Jul. 3];12(3):379-85. Available from: https://periodicos.uninove.br/saude/article/view/4234

Issue

Section

Applied Sciences